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NFL Players Ask For $707 Million In TV Dispute

HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 23: ESPN Monday Night Football cameras point during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Houston Texans on November 23, 2009 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Titans won 20-17. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The NFL’s locked-out players are asking a federal judge for at least $707 million in damages stemming from a dispute with the league over $4 billion in broadcast revenue.

U.S. District Court Judge David Doty took the request under advisement after a two-hour hearing Thursday that included arguments from attorneys for the league and players.

The players have accused the NFL of illegally securing the $4 billion “war chest” by renegotiating TV contracts for 2011. Doty has ruled that the league failed to maximize revenues for the players in those negotiations, essentially leaving money on the table.

The players contend the new contracts were reached to fund the lockout, which has been in place largely without interruption since March 11 and is currently before a federal appeals court. Doty told the attorneys he had hoped the dispute would have been settled by now.